Airship.



C. EHLERS.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1912.

2 SHEETSS HEB '1' 1.

Patented July 23, 1912.

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WITNESSES.

G. BHLERS.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAYC, 191Ev Patented July 23, 1912.

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I cHAnLEs'EHLEEs, 01 WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed May a, 1912. Serial No. 694,877.

is a side elevation of an air ship embodying my invention;-Fig. 2 a planof the steering and steadying mechanism. proper; Fig. 3 is a diagramshowing the position of the rudder and gates when pointing toward theleft; Fig. 4 a similar diagram showing the position. of theparts whenpointing toward the right; Fig. 5 a side view of part of the steadyingstructure; Fig. 6 a horizontal section thereof, taken on line 66, Fig.5; Fig. 7 a vertical section on line 77, Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 a side viewof the rudder.

The air ship comprises essentially a gas balloon 10 from which there issuspended by hangers 11, the car 12, in such a manner that a clearanceis formed intermediate balloon and car. \Vithin this clearance is fitteda substantially X -shaped wind compensating structure comprising a pairof intersecting members A, said members being secured to the balloon aswell as to the car by the hangers 11 or otherwise. The correlation ofthe parts is such that the point of intersection 13 of the members A islocated about centrally beneath the balloon 10. Furthermore one thirdportion of the length of each member is located in front of point 13,while two thirds thereof are loca'ted back of such point, so that thespan between the forward ends of the members, is one half that of thespan between the rear ends thereof.

,Each member A is composed of upper and lower horizontal rails 14 and ofa number 'of spaced vertical posts 15-that form a continuous row oflongitudinally alined openings 16. It is pre erred to make rails 14 ofL-shape and post 15 of T-sha-pe in cross section as shown. The openings16 are controlled by gates Bwliich are hinged to posts 15 and areadapted to open and close said openings. Thegates of one frame member 14are opposed to those of the other frame member, so that when theship issubjected to a side wind, the openings in one member will be closedwhile those in the other member are opened. Calling that frame member A,the rear end of which is located to the right, the starboard member,then the gates of such member are freely oscillable to the left, whilethe gates of the port member are oscillable toward the right. Thisfeature is not altered by the fact that the members'cross each other,and that therefore the outer side of either one member back of point '13becomes the inner side of such member in front of such point.

It is preferred to form each gate B of a canvas body 17, the edges ofwhich are fitted between a pair of metal frames 18,one of which is hungto'post-15 by hinges 19, while the other frame isadapted to engage theflanges of rails 14 and posts 15 when the gate is closed.

The rudder 20 of the air ship is hung to swing backwardly from a post21, which is centered at such a distance in front of structure A, thatthe rear edge of the rudder will clear the front edge of such structure.The rudder may be operated by a steering wheel 22 and a gear train 23that meshes into a rear toothed segment of the rudder.

When the ship is driven against a head wind, all gates will be opened soas not to impede the free movement thereof. When the ship is to besteered obliquely against the wind, the windward gates will close whilethe leeward gates will open. .Thusasillus trated in Fig. 3, when theship is steered toof the port member. In this way the ship is easedagainst the objectionable influence of strong winds, which wouldotherwise interfere with its free. obedience to the rudder.

In Fig. 4, the ship is shown while'steering to starboard, the posit-ionof the rudder and gates being here reversed.

I claim: 1. An air ship comprising a gas balloon,

a structure depending therefrom and includ-- ing a pair of intersectinghorizontally disposed members that are provided with a pluralityoflongitudinally arranged openlugs, and gates controlling said openings,the gates of one member being opposed to those of the other member.

2. An air ship comprising a gas balloon, a structure depending there romand including a pair of intersecting horizontally dis-v posed membersthat are provided with a plurality of longitudinally arranged openmgs,and gates controlling said openings, the gates on each member beingarranged on the same side of said member and opposed to those of theother member.

3. An air ship comprising a gas balloon, a structure depending therefromand including a pair of intersecting horizontally disposed members thatare provided with awith a plurality of longitudinally arranged openings,and opposed gates cont-rollingsaid openings. Y a

5. An air ship comprising a gas balloon, a car do ending therefrom, astructure arranged intermediate the balloon and car and comprising apairof intersecting horizontally" disposed 'members that are providedwith Ia plurality. of longitudinally arranged openings, and opposed gatescontrolling said openin s, said gates being composed of a canvas ody andof a pair of 1IJneataI frames that bind the edges of said 6. An airshipcomprising a gas balloon, a car depending therefrom, a pair ofhorizontally disposed intersecting members arranged between the balloonand car, each of said members being composed of'a pair of horizontalrails and of a plurality of spaced upright posts, and gates hinged tosaid posts, the gates of one member being opposed to those of the othermember. CHARLES EHLERS. I Witnesses:

FRANK v. Barnsnu,

' KATHERYNE KOCH.

